This is an interesting scenario where the Americans are defending the legendary Parker's crossroads during the Bugle offensive. In reading about this it was quite the mixed up fight with serveral different commands involved and the scenario does a fairly good job recreating it. I will say it is a very tough for the Americans as their mobility, and recoveries, are limited by the SSR's. The Germans are also limited by the deep snow rules for movement so it will take sometime before the battle gets going.

The Germans are SS units advancing on three sides of a defending American mixed force of paratroops, infantry and armor support. The Germans have the edge in armor, number of troops, morale, OBA and setup (given they can setup on three sides of the board). The Americans hold the high ground and can dig in. American setup should be studied carefully because of movement restrictions.

In my solo effort the Americans setup in a horseshoe ring around the crossroads. The infantry units hold the western high ground and the crossroads, the para's hold the southern edge of the ridge with dugin troops and PMG's. To the east, the armor with a company of PARA's are dugin the light woods by the road. The Americans won't have too much time to move around so placement was key.

For the Germans they have a force move on from the west edge. This is a reinforce company with halftracks for mobility. The setup adjacent to the road leading on board 25. The southern force enters on board 22 at the southern road hex. They include the main strike force with two companies of GRENS with HMG's and PzIVH's. The eastern force is a lone Panther platoon moving on to board 22 via the eastern road. They will link up with the southern force to attack the American armor defending the eastern force.

The first three turns have the maneuveringuevering through the snow and along the roads. Some early fight occurs on the western edge of board 25 with the German SS company establish a firing position on the Americans holding the heights. German OBA demoralizes the M16 stationed there. This proves crippling to them as they never get a chance to recover for the rest of the game. GREN/HMG fire open up on the dugin Americans, but the heights tough for the company to suppress so most of the fight goes to keeping them from reinforcing the eastern or southern defenses. To the south a mounted company of GREN's look to pin the American PARA's defending the road. They are slow to get their and the Americans were able to shift a company of PARA's to the eastern defenses. In the east, the German attack splits, with one force moving north west after entering the board. This will allow them to strike the Americans while the other force moving up the roads and though the towns on board 22, to strike from the northeast.

The German forces take several turns to get into position. The Americans take advantage an target them with BF that scores a step loss and several disruptions. But the American guns are targeted by German OBA and Panther tank fisilenceds silinced quickly. But this buys a little time for the shifting PARA's to dig in along the east west road. The Germans are able to get the attack going by turn 6 and the southeast force hits the American PARA's on the hill demoralizinglosingep lossing several platoons. With losses mounting the mobility of American troops falls just as it is needed, when the German north east attack hits. The American M4/76 is hit by PzIVHcourageouscouragious PARA's charge the German tanks and destroy a step and demoralize the rest, but the PARA's are demoralized too. Soon they are overwhelmed by supporting GREN's. pressurehe presssure increase with each turn. The Germans press forward but are they get deeper into the American lines American fire steps up and demoralizes many GREN's and leaders making the German advance bog down. Several turns are spent recovering these German units but they are in position next to the crossroads to attack with their panzers. German DF reduce the last American defenders but turn 18 and win the day.